Lapdog

We have two dogs. Our first dog is named Axel and he is a pit bull terrier we rescued from a shelter in New Jersey. It was a controversial decision to bring him home. Our youngest son was still a toddler and we had children playing at our house often. He is a beautiful chocolate brown with white patches and he is the sweetest dog you will ever meet. He is an ambassador for the breed and I have yet to meet anyone who doesn't love him. He's gentle with the children. He drove with me from Pennsylvania to Iowa and sat in the front seat of my van and didn't make a peep. He is a wonderful travel companion.

And then there is Smudge. I have always wanted a little dog, the kind you can wash in the kitchen sink. On a whim, this past summer, I drove into Iowa farm country to a farm that had puppies for sale and bought the last one available. He is a poodle mix and what he looks like is a ball of black fluff. He is tiny and adorable and I couldn't resist--I really didn't want to resist. He is also a complete pain in the ass. First of all, he smells. He smells after his bath. I don't know why. Second, he shits in the house, often. Third, he has that yippy little dog bark that is like nails on a chalkboard. He likes to make piles of shoes and clothes and underwear in the hall (I've mentioned this before). If he is sitting on your lap, he licks. He licks incessantly. It's not kisses; it's a bath. He refuses to walk on a leash so you have to drag him. Everywhere I walk in the house he follows behind and bites at my pant legs.

And he loves me. And I love him. Smudge goes where I go. No matter what. If I move from one room to another he's right there with me. The rest of the family is okay, but I'm his main squeeze. When I'm in bed he sits on my head. He isn't happy unless one part of him is touching me. He can't jump on the bed because he is too small, so he jumps next to my side of the bed and whines until I pick him up. He is truly my lap dog.

I get the reference now. I had heard the term lap dog used in movies and in books. I had assumed that it meant someone who does someone else's bidding, but it is so much more. This dog's existence is centered on me. His happiness is in the palm of my hand. Don't worry. I treat him well. I think dogs are a miracle. The unconditional love is amazing. I saw a plaque once that said "I wish I was the person my dog thinks I am."

Yeah, me too.